Myth: Most OSSM students leave the state to attend out-of-state colleges and don’t return.
Facts:
- Approximately 60 percent of graduating seniors attend colleges and universities in Oklahoma.
- A number of them leave the state in order to serve their country. OSSM has graduated 15 students with appointments to the United States Naval Academy, 14 to the United States Air Force Academy and two to the United States Military Academy at West Point. A total forty are serving in the armed forces of the United States.
- More than half who have completed a degree and have entered the work force are working in Oklahoma.
- Ten have started their own businesses in Oklahoma.
- Young people tend to be adventurous. Some leave because they have a desire to see more of the world. Once they settle down and start having families, they frequently desire to return home to be near family.
Myth: OSSM is for students from Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
Facts:
- Students from all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties have been selected to attend OSSM.
- Over half of the OSSM enrollment is from communities with populations of fewer than 10,000. In fact, OSSM is especially valuable to gifted students from outside metropolitan areas. Due to small class sizes, their home schools are less likely to offer advanced math and science classes.
Myth: OSSM is for children of privilege.
Facts:
- There is no charge to attend OSSM. Tuition and room and board are provided by the State of Oklahoma and books are loaned to students for the duration of their stay at OSSM
- Applications are screened blindly, that is, all reference to the student’s last name, town, school and other applicant data is removed before a committee reviews each folder. All applications are ranked and a select number of students are invited for an interview.
- OSSM gives Oklahoma students, regardless of income or social status, the opportunity for a world-class high school education. OSSM graduates all attend college and generally receive multiple scholarship offers. The 1,024 graduates of OSSM have received scholarship offers in excess of $77 million.